Neoadjuvant therapy affects tumor growth markers in early stage non-small-cell lung cancer

• Main Authors: Chorostowska-Wynimko J, Zaleska J, Chabowski M, Szpechcinski A, Zych J, Rudzinski P, Langfort R, Orlowski T, Roszkowski-Sliz K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2009-12-01
• Series: European Journal of Medical Research
• Subjects: lung cancer; neoadjuvant therapy; TGF-β; VEGF; sAPO-1; TIMP-1
• Online Access: http://www.eurjmedres.com/content/14/S4/42

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>While adjuvant therapy of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is widely accepted, literature data concerning neoadjuvant treatment provide contradictory results with both improved and unaffected survival rates. Also, data concerning potential effects of neo-adjuvant therapy on cellular level are scarce.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The aim of present study was to analyze the effect of chemotherapy followed by surgical resection on several key biological markers of tumor growth (TGF-β, VEGF), apoptosis (sAPO-1/Fas/CD95) and invasiveness (TIMP-1) assessed in the sera of NSCLC early-stage patients (IB-IIIA).</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Measurements were performed by ELISA method in blood serum from 24 NSCLC patients (I-IIIA) collected prior therapy, one day before surgery and 3 days after.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>TGF-β serum concentrations were significantly lower after both chemotherapy (P < 0.05) and surgery (P < 0.01) in comparison to the baseline. VEGF levels decreased following NEO therapy with subsequent significant up-regulation after surgery (P < 0.001). Interestingly, post-surgery serum VEGF strongly correlated with TGF-β concentration (r = 0.52, P = 0.014). No significant differences were observed for serum sAPO-1/CD95/FAS as well as TIMP-1 concentrations at any of three evaluated time-points.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Neoadjuvant treatment of early-stage NSCLC affects mostly mechanisms responsible for tumor growth and vascularization. Its effect on cancer cells apoptotic activity needs further evaluation.</p>